And getting an apartment here to keep tabs on Evan. To toy with him. He came and went under the guise of a traveling job. He’d fooled them all. “They called him after the FBI left. That’s how he was onto us, wasn’t it?”
“Yep. The guy is resourceful. I’ll give him that.”
He’d likely had dozens of contingency plans. Including Morocco. “No extradition laws.”
“Exactly. But he wasn’t counting on you having extra backup, and Wheezer was on it the second I called him—when Jody came down and told us what had happened in the apartment. He figured out where Dylan was heading.”
“I owe that guy...something.” Evan chuckled.
“Dylan’s computers and devices gave analysts what they needed to freeze his online wallets so he couldn’t spend any Bitcoin. He’s going away for a long, long time.”
“Good.” Evan thought he wanted to be the one to take him in personally, to look him in the face, but after everything that had transpired all Evan cared about now was that he was going away and couldn’t hurt anyone else. And of course Jody.
He was alive, and if this wasn’t an opportunity for a second chance, he didn’t know what was. They entered Evan’s house. Cosette met them at the door.
“She awake?” Wilder asked.
“No.” She turned to Evan. “I’m glad you’re okay...Evan.”
Not Agent Novak anymore. He grinned. “Where is she?”
“Guest room bed.”
He strode to the guest room. Jody was lying in the middle of the bed, hair rumpled and sleeping. She wasn’t only physically beautiful. She had the most beautiful inside. This woman would have gone to the grave with him. Not the smartest idea but loyal. If she was willing to stick that out with him, she might be willing to stick out the rest of her life with him, even if he did make mistakes. Which he would. But if they could get through what he’d done in the past and through everything that had happened in the past week and a half then surely, with God, they could get through anything.
He brushed her hair back from her face and she shifted, winced. Must be in pain. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, you wild, crazy, wonderful woman.” He studied her a moment longer—it was so hard to break away from her. Then he kissed her once more on the lips and left to clean up for the press conference.
At the front door, he turned to Cosette. “If you can coax her awake in the next thirty minutes, please do. I want her to see the press conference.”
Cosette patted his arm. “I’ll do my best.” She looked at Wilder. “And when we get back to CCM—”
“I’m taking a nap, then eating a steak dinner.”
“Wilder...at some point you have to talk to me.”
“I’m talking to you right now.”
“Wilder Flynn!” She popped her hands on her hips and frowned.
Wilder laughed and opened the door. “Come on, I’ll drive you to the press conference.” He closed the door on Cosette and walked to the SUV.
“Why does she want to talk to you?” Evan asked as he buckled up.
“She makes everyone at CCM do a weekly session with her. Mental health. Blah-blah.”
“So talk to her.”
Wilder snorted. “Cosette doesn’t just talk. She gets all up in your head and under your skin.” He shuddered. “I don’t need that.”
Evan kept silent. None of his business. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the Secret Service Agency. The press littered the front of the building.
“Go time. Looks like, Washington, here you come.” Wilder pocketed his keys.
Evan studied him. Wilder was baiting him. Evan grinned. “I’m not going to Washington. Everything I want is in Atlanta.”
“What about a job?”
“I haven’t got that far yet.” Right now, he had to make things right then see how Jody felt about marrying him.
Wilder grinned. “Ever thought of private security?”
“Are you offering me a job?”
“Yeah, but it’s contingent on what my cousin has to say when you get gooey on her.”
Shaking his head, Evan laughed again. “You never been gooey on anyone?”
“I don’t have that luxury. But I envy those of you who do.”
Evan frowned. “You can love someone and be in a dangerous job. Everyone on your team pretty much does.”
“I’m not talking about loving someone, Novak.”
“What are you talking about then?”
Wilder pointed to the door. “Out ya go. If she says yes, come find me and fill out the paperwork.”
“And if she says no?” Evan asked.
Smirking, Wilder shrugged. “I guess you hit the road, Jack.”
Evan closed the SUV door and headed for the reporters, who were already begging for the scoop. But Evan didn’t respond. Praise from men was no longer a draw. He didn’t need their respect or admiration.
He only wanted that from one woman.
He shook hands with Clive and took the podium.
SIXTEEN
“He was here and left?” Jody clutched her chest. Evan was alive. He’d made it out! She pressed her palms to her burning eyes. A relieved and thankful sob erupted and her head swam due to the pain meds. She was now nestled on the couch, elated and awaiting the news Cosette had woken her up to watch.
Cosette grinned and handed her a cup of tea and a tissue. “Don’t get upset.”
Jody laughed. “I’m not. I’m just relieved he’s alive.” She sipped the tea. “Besides, he lives here, so he’ll be back at some point.” And she needed the rest. “I’m still upset with Beckett and Wilder. And they know it. That’s why they’ve made themselves scarce.”
Cosette switched on the TV and turned it up. “Beckett and Aurora drove back after Evan was found. Wilder drove him to the press conference, though I have a feeling that has nothing to do with being scarce around you, but me.”
“He’ll talk when he’s ready.”
“He’ll never be ready. But let’s talk about you. You and Evan.”
Jody grinned. “I don’t know. He loves me. I believe that. But I don’t know if I can go back to Washington after everything. Not that I blame Evan anymore. It’s...awkward. What would I do? I can’t go back into the agency. I’m pretty much alienated there. And Evan deserves this promotion, so if he takes it and then he wants me to move to Washington with him—married or in separate apartments—I’ll do it. For him. I’ll figure something out. But I’ll do it.”
“Press conference is starting.”
Cosette had filled her in on Dylan Vanhatter’s arrest, as well. “I’m happy for Evan. He looks good up there, doesn’t he?”
“He does. He’s handsome for sure.”
Evan came on-screen wearing a navy blue suit with a powder blue dress shirt. His tie was a mix of both colors, bringing out his eyes.
“I want to thank you for coming out,” he said with quiet authority. “Today, ghost guns have been taken out of the reach of criminals. Identity theft and gun rings have fallen and Dylan Vanhatter, aka Sam Bass aka Lawman1, has been taken into custody and his dark website, the Arsenal, has been deactivated. It’s a good, good day today. But I didn’t do this alone.” He acknowledged his task force and Covenant Crisis Management, one by one each team member and how they’d contributed to the mission, as well as Beckett Marsh saving his life.
“I guess I can’t stay mad at Beck forever,” Jody teased. He’d done it for her own good. She sipped her tea as Evan continued.
“But one member of CCM deserves a special acknowledgment. Three years ago, Secret Service Agent Jody Gallagher was fired after evidence showed she’d been drinking on the job and allowing security to be breached by the press.”
Jody’s hand shook and her tea sloshed over the side. Cosette took it from her.
“The truth is Jody was protecting another agent. An agent who had been fully responsible for that breach of security. I know this firsthand...”
Evan, don’t! You’ll wreck your career. Everything you worked for. You’ve been forgiven and you have this amazing opportunity.
“Because I was that agent. I let her take the fall to save my career. And I’ve regretted it every day.”
Reporters hurled questions over one another in a frenzy.
“With that, I’m resigning from my position at the Secret Service. I will not be accepting a promotion to Assistant Director of Protective Operations in Washington, DC. The most qualified person for that job is Jody Gallagher. If anyone deserves it, it’s her.”
Jody’s chest tightened; tears burned her eyes. She had no words. He’d sacrificed everything. For her.
Evan slipped from the podium.
The news would be filled with talk of Evan. That night would be rehashed all over again. It killed Jody but not for herself. She’d endured it and come out stronger. God hadn’t given up on her. He’d been working on her all this time. Quietly but tenderly.
But Evan would have to face his biggest fears. Some might respect his honesty and let the fact that he’d brought down three crime rings speak for itself, but there would be naysayers. He’d lose respect and admiration from colleagues.
“He loves you, Jody. So much.” Cosette carried the tea to the kitchen, and in a few minutes the door opened and Evan and Wilder bounded inside.
Cosette looked from Evan to Jody. “Wilder,” Cosette said.
“What?” he said through a groan, and threw his head back like a child who knew he was about to be told to clean his room.
Scowling, Cosette nodded toward Jody and Evan. “How about we go get that steak and take our hour.”
He frowned, then tossed out his signature smile that oozed charm and grace. The same grin that had gotten him out of whuppings as a kid. He extended his arm for Cosette to loop hers into. “You know, Cosette, I have a better idea. I saw this sweet little crawfish joint not far from here. How about we get our gumbo on, instead.”
“Wooeee.” She laid on the thick Cajun accent and took his arm. “I like that idea, mon cher.”
He chuckled and they left Jody standing by the couch, facing Evan.
“I’d come running into your arms, but I kinda can’t.” Jody laughed and cried. “You scared me to death today.”
“Are you going to hold it against me forever, like you said you would when I almost drowned?” His mischievous smile undid her.
She snickered. “Come here right now.”
In two strides, Evan had her in his arms.
“I can’t believe you did that, Evan. Why did you do that?” She buried her face into his chest, inhaling his scent, thankful he was here and alive.
“I should have done that a long time ago.” He pulled back and raised her chin to peer into his eyes. “You deserved that and so much more. People needed to know.”
“But I was okay.”
“I wasn’t.” He caressed her face with his thumb. “When Beckett carried you out of the apartment building, all I could think was how grateful I was to have a last moment with you. A last kiss with you. The last face I got to see was yours. But I had one regret...and that was not declaring to the world what an amazing woman and agent you are. God gave me that chance.”
“Evan, I’m sorry. For everything. I love you. I love you whether you did that or not. I just got through telling Cosette I’d make it work even if I had to go to Washington.”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Well, you don’t have to. Unless you get a call from the agency and want to. And then, I’ll go. With you. By your side.”
She clasped his hands, which cradled her cheeks. “You would do that?”
He claimed her lips with ease and grace. The truth was clear. He would go anywhere with her. Do anything for her. Breaking the kiss, he pecked her nose, then dropped to his knee and pulled a black velvet box from his pocket. “I bought this six months after we started dating—the day after I told you I loved you. Before we did everything wrong and out of order. Before I let fear paralyze me. But you need to know that, Jody. You need to know that I wanted you for a lifetime before I ever even kissed you on our second date. Jody Siobhan Gallagher, will you marry me?”
Jody was stunned, looking at the gorgeous princess-cut diamond on a thick white-gold band. He’d bought her a ring. He’d thought about it. He’d loved her. He’d always loved her. She could hardly find her voice. “Yes,” she squeaked. “Yes!”
He slid the engagement ring on her finger and stood, drawing her so far into him she wasn’t sure where she ended and he began. “I should tell you something else,” he murmured as he peppered her lips with kisses.
“What’s that?”
“I was offered a job at CCM.”
Jody grinned. Working with Wilder had started out as a fallback from the fallout. But she realized now that working with family and helping people who needed their expertise was what she loved most. She didn’t want to go back to the Secret Service and she was sure Granddaddy Flynn would be equally proud of her being right here, right now. “I think we make a pretty great team, Novak.”
“I do, too...Novak.”
“Jody Novak. Sounds good.”
Evan grinned and kissed her again. “No. It sounds perfect.”
* * * * *
If you liked this story from Jessica R. Patch,
check out the first book in
THE SECURITY SPECIALISTS miniseries:
DEEP WATERS
And don’t miss these other Love Inspired Suspense books by Jessica R. Patch:
FATAL REUNION
PROTECTIVE DUTY
CONCEALED IDENTITY
FINAL VERDICT
Available now from Love Inspired!
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Keep reading for an excerpt from TRACKING DANGER by Terri Reed.
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Dear Reader,
Sometimes we get angry at God when we don’t see Him working in our lives—when it feels He’s absolutely silent and ignoring us. Jody didn’t see justice for a grievous wrong done to her friend or herself, but instead of trusting God to someday make it right, she let a man who wasn’t a believer fill her empty and hurting heart. She rebelled against God and made a lot of poor choices. Maybe like Jody, you’ve made some poor choices due to anger and hurt. Right now you might be far away from God without any clue how to get back into a relationship with Him. Like Jody, all it takes is opening up some dialogue with Him.
Pray.
Ask God to heal and forgive you. He will. You can find peace. Move forward and pursue God’s will for your life. He hasn’t changed His mind about you. His arms are always open.
I love to connect with readers. Please sign up for my newsletter at www.jessicarpatch.com for contests, giveaways and book news. You can email me at [email protected].
Warmly,
Jessica
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Tracking Danger
by Terri Reed
ONE
“Wait!” Dill, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Serena Evans called to her fellow sheriff’s deputy standing on the porch of the one-story cottage. He placed the red rose and white sheet of paper, which no doubt had the words I’m coming for you scrawled in black script, into an evidence bag.
Serena and her K-9 partner, a red-and-white-speckled English springer spaniel named Ginger, hurried up the walkway of the home of the latest target of the serial killer known as the Red Rose Killer. The perpetrator had already claimed five victims.
Thankfully, the latest intended target was still alive. The Dill Sheriff’s Department had a chance to catch the fiend before he made good his threat. And Serena anticipated this time the sheriff would give her and Ginger a chance to prove themselves. That he’d called her in on her day off gave her hope he was finally taking them seriously.
Deputy Sheriff Mike Burnside paused with a quick glance at the open front door. “What?”
“Let Ginger take a smell before you seal the bag,” she said.
Mike frowned. “Bruno already sniffed them.” Referring to the department’s other K-9 officer: “Harry and the dog followed the scent to the road. The guy took off in a car, and they lost his scent.”
“But Ginger won’t lose the scent,” Serena told him. “She’s trained for this.” Serena didn’t add the German shepherd was great at apprehension and protection but he wasn’t a scent hound. Ginger was a hunting dog, trained in wilderness air search.
With another glance at the open door, Mike held out the opened bags. “Fine. Hurry.”
Secret Service Setup Page 19